Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 July 2025 Arden Hills Notescityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents July 2025 Construction of the New Lake Johanna Fire Department Headquarters Begins Rendering submitted by the Lake Johanna Fire Department L to R: Asst. Chief of Fire Prevention Kris Rewald, Asst. Chief of Operations Matt Sather, Councilmember Holden, Fire Chief Tim Boehlke, Mayor Grant, Councilmember Monson, Councilmember Weber, Asst. Chief of Training Jon Rasch Construction of the new Lake Johanna Fire Department headquarters has begun! A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Thursday, May 22, where elected officials from Arden Hills, North Oaks, Shoreview and state officials joined together to celebrate. This headquarters station will support the communities of Arden Hills, North Oaks and Shoreview, as well as the Fire Department’s needs over “the next 50 years.” The new location will balance response times to the southern portion of the joint service area. This station will feature first-class training facilities that will be used with partner agencies for classroom and hands-on training both inside and outside the training room. It will include a training tower, ladder training and rope rescue training. The Fire Department will be able to conduct station tours and expand on various Public Fire Education programs within their new headquarters. The City Council approved a proposal to construct the new headquarters in July 2024. Regular updates will be posted on the City’s website at cityofardenhills.org. 2 • Arden Hills Notes • July 20252 • Arden Hills Notes • July 2025 Service Directory City Hall 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 cityofardenhills.org 651-792-7800 Summer Office Hours Monday - Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sheriff and Fire 911 - Emergency and Non-Emergency Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor David Grant • 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org City Councilmembers Brenda Holden • 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Emily Rousseau • 651-792-7856 erousseau@cityofardenhills.org Tena Monson • 612-758-0695 tmonson@cityofardenhills.org Kurt Weber • 651-792-7857 kweber@cityofardenhills.org City Administrator Jessica Jagoe • 651-792-7810 jjagoe@cityofardenhills.org Sr. Communications Coordinator Laura Michlig • 651-792-7817 lmichlig@cityofardenhills.org Resident Resources cityofardenhills.org/resident-resources Council meetings are held at City Hall on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Council meetings, Work Sessions and Planning Commission meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Please visit cityofardenhills.org for information about archived meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official newsletter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. City News Arden Hills Receives Finance-Related Awards For the 18th consecutive year, the City of Arden Hills has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). This program recognizes government agencies that demonstrate a spirit of transparency and full disclosure in their ACFRs. It encourages staff to go above and beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles. The City has also earned the Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) Award. This program encourages governments to extract information from their ACFR and produce a report that is readily accessible and easily understandable to the general public. Congratulations to Finance Director Joua Yang and the Finance team on this achievement! We appreciate their continued hard work and commitment to Arden Hills. Adopt-A-Park Program Begins at Floral Park The City of Arden Hills is excited to announce the launch of a new Adopt- A-Park pilot program in partnership with the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary Club. As part of this initiative, the Rotary Club has officially adopted Floral Park for a two-year term. Throughout this period, club members will work on various improvement projects aimed at enhancing the park for visitors. This included the removal of invasive species, such as buckthorn, and replacing it with plants native to Minnesota. The City looks forward to seeing the positive impact this collaboration will bring to Floral Park and hopes to expand the program to additional community parks in the future. Stay tuned for updates and volunteer opportunities.Located at 1423 Floral Drive W.Located at 1423 Floral Drive W. Parks and Recreation Fall Guide Check out all Arden Hills’ fun fall activities in the Fall Activities Guide set to be released later in July. Programs include youth soccer, adult sports, school release day programs, youth basketball camps, dance classes, music classes, sports samplers, yoga and more! For more information and to register, visit: cityofardenhills.org/180/Parks- Recreation cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 3 cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 3 June 5, 2025 Special City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Appointment of Building and Code Enforcement Inspector • Approved Resignation of Building Official • Approved Recruitment for Building Official June 9, 2025 City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved 2024 City Financial Statements and Audit • Approved Payment of Invoice from M&B Services, Inc. – Lakeshore Place Watermain Repair ($52,500) • Approved Payment No. 7 – S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. – 2024 PMP Street and Utility Improvements Project ($8,300.16) • Approved Payment No. 1 – Hydro- Klean, LLC – 2025 CIPP Lining Project ($259,675.59) • Approved Resignation of Donna Wiemann from the Planning Commission June 23, 2025 City Council Meeting All votes 3-0 unless otherwise noted. (Mayor Grant joined remotely at work session which was held prior to Regular meeting, but due to city related technical difficulties,was unable to participate. Councilmember Rousseau was excused) • Approved Xcel Thermal Energy Network Demonstration Project Letter of Support • Approved Resolution 2025-044 Accepting Donation from Arden Hills Foundation ($250) • Approved Appointment of Interim Building Official • Approved Lease Extension with Marco Technologies for City Hall Copier/Printer ($17,794.08 - three year lease) • Approved Sponsorship Policy • Approved Payment of Ramsey County Fleet Services April 2025 Invoice ($19,298.67) • Approved Resolution 2025- 045 Adopting and Confirming Quarterly Special Assessments for Delinquent Utilities • Approved Ordinance 2025- 002 Related to Cable Franchise Extension Agreement Renewal June 30, 2025 Special City Council Meeting All votes 5-0 unless otherwise noted. • Approved Agreement with Metro West Inspection Services for On- Call Building Official Services City Council Benchmarks As e-bikes and motorized scooters continue to grow in popularity, residents have asked what’s allowed on Arden Hills’ paved trails and roads. The City follows Minnesota State Law, which permits Class 1 (pedal-assist) and Class 2 (throttle- assist) e-bikes on multi-use paved trails. Both classes are limited to a top speed of 20 miles per hour. Class 3 (pedal- assist) e-bikes, which can reach higher speeds, are intended for road use and are not recommended on shared trails. On roads, all e-bike classes and motorized scooters must follow the same traffic laws as bicycles. Riders should stay as far to the right as practicable, signal turns, obey traffic signs and signals, and use lights and reflectors when riding at night. Motorized scooters are not allowed on sidewalks but may be used in bike lanes or on roadways and paved shared trails. On trails, please yield to pedestrians, announce yourself when passing and maintain a safe, respectful speed. Staying alert and aware of others helps keep trails welcoming for everyone. Currently, Arden Hills has no additional restrictions beyond state guidelines. The City will continue to monitor trail and road use to ensure safety and accessibility for all. E-Bikes and Motorized Scooters City Commissions and Committees Meetings Arden Hills has several Commissions and Committees which allow the City to benefit from the expertise and experience of those who live and work in the city. These meetings are a great way to develop leadership skills, be of service and make a difference. Below is the regular meeting schedule for commissions and committees. Unless otherwise noted, meetings take place at Arden Hills City Hall (1245 W. Highway 96). • Economic Development Committee: Fourth Wednesday of even months at 7:30 a.m. • Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee: Third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. • Planning Commission: First Wednesday after the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Learn more about Commissions and Committees at: cityofardenhills.org/125/Commissions-Committees For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills.org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” 4 • Arden Hills Notes • July 2025 Inside this issue: Dividing Up Your Tax Dollar 2 Organizational Chart 2 Demographics 3 General Fund 4 Special Revenue Funds 5 Long-Term Debt 5 Internal Service Funds 5 Capital Funds 6 Enterprise Funds 6 Cost of City Services 6 Property Taxes & Homes Values 7 Awards & Recog-nition 8 For the year ended December 31, 2024 1245 W Hwy 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 651-792-7800 cityofardenhills.org The City of Arden Hills is proud to present its Popular Annual Financial Report [PAFR]. The purpose of this report is to inform the community of the City’s financial activity in a sim- ple, easy-to-read format for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. These highlights are based upon the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Annual Report) which is a more inclusive, audited document. In order for Arden Hills to manage the community finances smoothly, it divides various activities into several different funds.  The General Fund accounts for revenues and expenditures that provide for basic operations of the City, i.e., administration, police & fire, street & park maintenance, recreation, community development and planning.  Special Revenue Funds account for activities restricted to specific purposes like economic development.  Debt Service Funds track revenues and expenses related to repayment of long term debt.  The Capital Funds collect revenues from special assessments, state and county aids and allots them toward construction or major capital expenses.  Enterprise Funds account for activities that operate as public enterprises which are paid for by user fees, i.e., water, recy- cling, sewer and surface water manage- ment.  Internal Service Funds account for the acquisition, operation, and maintenance of governmental facilities and services, which are entirely or predominately self- supported by user charges to other gov- ernmental funds. Ramsey County 48¢ City of Arden Hills 26¢ School District 17¢ Other Agencies 9¢ Dividing Up Your Property Tax Dollar Your tax dollar is divided up be- tween several governmental enti- ties. Arden Hills collects 26 cents of every tax dollar for City ser- vices. The remaining portions are divided among Ramsey County, the school district and other agen- cies. Department Organizational Chart City of Arden Hills, Minnesota Popular Annual Financial Report To The Community Inside this issue: Dividing Up Your Tax Dollar Organizational Chart General Fund Special Revenue Funds Long Term Debt Internal Service Funds Capital Funds Enterprise Funds Cost of City Services Property Taxes and Home Values Demographics 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 9 cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 5 cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 5 City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report City Departments Administration: This department provides the overall direction for the City as determined by the City Council. It is responsible for maintaining City records, issuing licenses, administering Council policies, and over-seeing election procedures. Finance: This department conducts the financial affairs of the City of Arden Hills in accordance with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Community Development: This department is responsible for ensuring that laws, ordinances, and zoning codes are enforced. It is also responsible for economic development within the City. Public Works: This department manages the City ’s infrastructure as it relates to roadways, water, sewer, and surface water management. Parks & Recreation: This department is responsible for providing recreational activities in the City and maintaining the City’s parks and trails. General Fund The City’s General Fund is the largest fund and is also one of the most vital to the City ’s operation. The General Fund is the primary fund that accounts for everyday general expenditures like street and park maintenance, public safety, and administrative services. Like most funds, the General Fund relies on the inflow of cash, shown as revenues, and subsequently the outflow, listed as expenditures. The City’s total General Fund expenditures for 2024 were $5,777,327 which was $343,943 (5.6%) under the final budget. Overall, General Fund expenditures increased by $433,810 (8.1%) from 2023. Public Safety costs increased $120,293 (4.4%) and Public Works costs increased by $33,630 (4.9%). The chart below highlights the amount funded by each of the City’s functions. The primary revenue for the General Fund is property taxes. Intergovernmental revenues are items like state or county aids and grants. For year end 2024, the City’s revenue total was $5,892,355 which was a $538,200 (10.1%) increase from the previous year. Property taxes increased $659,503 due to increased property tax levy in the cur- rent year. Licenses & permits decreased 23,155 due to decreased building activity. Investment earnings decreased 46,263 due to market value fluctuations. City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report Page 4 2022 2023 2024 Property Taxes $3,829,079 $3,963,077 $4,622,580 Special Assessments 0 0 0 Licenses/Permits 830,866 471,742 448,587 Intergovernmental 174,405 167,376 116,870 Charges for Services 476,574 342,339 356,689 Other (4,488) 409,621 347,629 Total General Fund Revenues $5,306,436 $5,354,155 $5,892,355 2023 2024 2022 General Government $1,235,704 $1,435,047 $1,077,037 Public Safety 2,704,012 2,824,305 2,546,051 Public Works 682,510 716,140 914,148 Parks & Recreation 721,291 751,835 665,776 Other 0 0 50,000 Total General Fund Expenditures $5,343,517 $5,777,327 $5,203,012 Revenues Expenditures Net position is a measure of the City’s net worth, with increases and decreases in net position serving as an indica- tor of the city’s financial health. The City’s total Net Position increased by $2,032,838 in 2024, $2,192,189 in 2023, and $1,834,798 in 2022, which indicates positive financial health. Net Position 6 • Arden Hills Notes • July 2025 City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report Special Revenue Funds Special Revenue Funds are used to account for revenues derived from specific taxes or other ear- marked revenue sources. They are required by statute to finance par- ticular functions, activities, or governments. The City of Arden Hills has the following recurring Special Revenue Funds:  Cable TV accounts for reve- nue and expenditures related to cable TV, internet and other forms of communication. Reve- nue for this fund comes primari- ly from cable owner franchise fees.  EDA Operations accounts for general administration activities that are not specific to any indi- vidual Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, as well as activi- ties associated with the Eco- nomic Development Commission and Economic Development Au- thority.  EDA TIF Districts account for revenues derived from tax in- crements and expenditures for developer reimbursements and administrative expenses. The City had three districts at the end of 2024. The City also established an American Rescue Plan Act Fund to administer the ARPA funds and a Karth Lake Improvement District Fund to manage a pump replace- ment project. These are short- term funds.  Very Strong economy, with access to a broad and diverse metropolitan statistical area.  Very strong management, with strong financial polices and practices.  Very strong budgetary perfor- mance and liquidity.  Very strong debt and contin- gent liability position.  Strong institutional frame- work. Arden Hills received a “AAA” rat- ing from Standard and Poor’s Global on its recent 2025 bond issue. This is the highest possi- ble rating you can receive. A high bond rating translates into lower future borrowing costs. It shows that the City is able to meet its financial commitments and has the lowest risk of de- fault. This rating is based on the City’s: Long Term Debt City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report Page 5 The goal of the PAFR is to sup- plement—not replace—the An- nual Report. Similar to the Annual Report, information in the PAFR con- forms to Generally Accepted Ac- counting Principles (GAAP). For more detailed information and copies of the PAFR or Annual Report, visit the city’s website at www.cityofardenhills.org. Internal service funds are an accounting device used to ac- cumulate and allocate costs internally among the City’s various functions. The City maintains internal service funds for risk management, engineering, central garage and technology. The combined totals for these funds are: Internal Service Funds cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 7 cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 7 City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report Residents receive a variety of City ser- vices at an affordable price. The cost of City services in 2024 for the owner of a single-family home in Arden Hills with an assessor’s market value of $469,000 was $95.67 per month. The checkbook shows how the monthly cost of property tax-supported services was divided among City departments. Permanent Improvement Revolving Fund: The Pavement Management Pro- gram (PMP) identifies, inventories, and tracks street conditions to ensure that mainte- nance is completed at the appropriate time. The results are prolonged pavement life and reduced costs to property owners. The most recent project occurred in 2024, within the McClung and Colleen neighborhood area. Year end fund balance was $3,118,495. Public Safety Projects: This fund accounts for the City’s share of capital equip- ment costs for police and fire. Year end fund balance was $409,206. Equipment/Building Maintenance & Repair: City equipment and buildings are monitored regularly and replaced/repaired when needed. Transfers are made from various funds to fund these expenditures. Year end fund balance was $510,555. Parks: This fund was established for park/trail acquisition, maintenance and development. Revenue for this fund comes from developer park dedication fees, con- tributions, state grants and investment interest. Year end fund balance was $215,238. Enterprise Funds City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report Page 6 Capital Funds Check Register Description of Transaction Balance PPuubblliicc SSaaffeettyy $$ 4422..9988 GGeenneerraall GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt $$ 2211..8844 PPaarrkkss aanndd RReeccrreeaattiioonn $$ 1111..4444 PPuubblliicc WWoorrkkss $$ 1100..9900 CCaappiittaall //EEDDAA $$ 88..5511 About this Report The City of Arden Hills reports financial year- end results in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Annual Report). The Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) is an unaudited report that summarizes the most significant data from the Annual Report, and is consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. For a complete review of the City’s financial position for 2024, consult the 2024 Annual Report available on the City’s website at www.cityofardenhills.org, or from the Finance Department at 651.792.7800. 95.67 January 1, 2024 Homeowner City Of Arden Hills Eighty seven dollars and 88/100—————— MONTHLY police, fire, street Homeowner YOUR BANK Cost of City Services The Enterprise Funds are run like a business in that they rely on fees and charges for revenue to cover expenses. These funds consist of utility services provided to the com- munity by the City such as water, sewer, surface water and recycling. A rate study was completed in 2018 and projected infrastructure improvements will require annual user rate increases for the foreseeable future. User rates are evaluated each year during the budget cycle. Based on an average usage of 4,800 gallons per month, the 2024 monthly cost of utili- ties for a home in Arden Hills was $95.70 (Arden Hills bills on a quarterly basis). Revenues Expenses Water 3,063,487 2,658,358 Sewer 2,567,448 2,108,052 Surface Water 1,040,446 752,340 Recycling 194,402 168,958 6,865,783 5,687,708 651-792-7800. Equipment/Building Maintenance and Repair: 8 • Arden Hills Notes • July 2025 City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report 2024 City Property Taxes per Household per Month In a 2024 comparison of twelve communities in Ramsey County, the average cost of services on a $469,000 homestead, in terms of property taxes, showed Arden Hills ranking as the lowest. A $469,000 homestead in Arden Hills paid $95.67 per month in property taxes to the City. City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report Page 7 The median home value has increased from $372,400 in 2020 to $469,000 in 2024, a 25.9% increase. During that same period, the city tax on a median value home has increased from $937 to $1,148, a 22.5% increase. The city ’s tax capacity, which is the maximum amount of taxes that can be charged to the city, increased by $5,289,810 (35.4%) in 2024 compared to 2020, which contributed to the 0.9% decrease in the city tax rate from 25.41% in 2020 to 24.49% in 2024. cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 9 cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 9 3,170 Households City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report Page 3 9,879 Population BUILDING PERMITS 1,279 Permits Issued $10.9M Residential Valuations $15.0M Commercial Valuations Median Home Value—$469,000 $1,847—median gross rent Median Age—35.9 Persons per Household—2.63 Arden Hills City of Arden Hills Popular Annual Financial Report 10 • Arden Hills Notes • July 2025 The City of Arden Hills is offering rebates to residents for replacements or upgrades to their toilets, irrigation controllers, dishwashers and washing machines. Installing more efficient appliances and toilets helps lower the water demand for all residents and businesses, thereby reducing Arden Hills’ overall water treatment cost and the maintenance of watermains. This rebate program is made possible by a grant from the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services through funding from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. Rebates to residents up to $200 will be offered on qualified purchases. Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis on submitted and completed applications. The rebate program has been allocated $10,000 and will close once that amount has been exhausted. As of July 1, 2025 there is $4,431.70 remaining in rebate funds. Eligibility Eligible items must be WaterSense or EnergyStar certified. Verify certification on the EPA WaterSense website and confirm the logo is visible on the packaging. Eligible purchases include replacements or upgrades to toilets, irrigation controllers, clothes washing machine and dishwashers. Rebates will be paid up to 75% of the pre-tax costs, not to exceed $200 per utility account and are available for device cost and installation only. Replacements must have been purchased after July 1, 2024. Owner labor charges are not applicable. New houses and new developments are not eligible for this program. Required Documents Some items are required when submitting your application, which must include the purchase date, make and model, pre-tax cost and installation cost (if applicable—owner labor is ineligible). Additionally, the WaterSense or EnergyStar documentation or labels from the products and a photo of the installed device must be included with your application. Apply for Rebate Find more information and complete the rebate application at cityofardenhills.org/Rebates or complete a printed application and return it to City Hall, along with copies of the required documents listed above. The printed application is available on the webpage listed above or at City Hall. The Minnesota State Fair runs August 21 to September 1, 2025. Parking restrictions are dependent upon the State Fair determining the locations of the Park and Ride lots. Keep an eye out in your neighborhood for “no parking” signs. Violators may be ticketed or towed. Visit the State Fair website at mnstatefair.org/transportation for up-to-date parking information. You can also take advantage of parking right here in Arden Hills. The following are official Park and Ride locations: • Catholic United Financial, 3499 Lexington Avenue N. • Gathering Place Lutheran Ministries, 3245 New Brighton Road Street parking limitations are implemented to ensure that public safety and mail service providers can access all neighborhoods. No parking rules begin on August 21 and last until the final day of the State Fair on September 1. If you encounter any issues, please contact the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office by dialing 9-1-1. State Fair Parking: August 21 - September 1 Water Efficiency Rebate Program cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 11 cityofardenhills.org • July 2025 • 11 Ribfest Returns on Saturday, September 13 Get ready for a fantastic day of fun and flavor at the annual Yellow Ribbon Ribfest on September 13. Gates open at noon, with a Career Fair to kick off the festivities. Held at the National Guard Readiness Center, located at 4800 Hamline Ave N. in Arden Hills, this event offers free entry and entertainment for all ages. Food and beverage tickets will be available for purchase on-site. Proceeds will support the MN Building Trades and the Yellow Ribbon’s mission of aiding service members, veterans and their families across Minnesota. Enjoy live music, a kids’ zone, military displays, flyovers and a mouth-watering rib competition starting at 2:30 p.m. Calling All Sponsors and Volunteers Businesses and organizations are invited to become sponsors for this community-centric event. Sponsorship provides an excellent opportunity to gain visibility and show support for our veterans and service members. They also welcome volunteers to help make this event a success. From setting up to assisting with activities and ensuring everything runs smoothly, your contribution will make a significant difference. A hot dog or hamburger lunch will be provided to all volunteers. Join in for a day of community, celebration and support for our heroes! Find out more about the event and sponsorships at yellowribbonribfest.org. Scan the QR code to watch the Ribfest promotional video. Community Picnic: Thursday, August 14 The Shoreview/Arden Hills Lions Club, Arden Hills Parks and Recreation Department, and the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee invite you to a community picnic on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5-7:30 p.m. at Cummings Parks. There will be yard games, free hot dogs, chips and drinks, and door prizes! Mark your calendars and stop in for a fun night connecting with fellow community members. The Shoreview/Arden Hills Lions are part of Lions International. They support local and international projects through service projects and fund-raising events. 100% of the money generated is donated back to the community, local non- profits, city improvements and charitable causes in and around Shoreview and Arden Hills. The Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary is hosting a fun evening of beer, wine and food sampling as well as music, games, a silent auction and a raffle! This is a fundraising event that positively impacts the lives of thousands locally and internationally. Taste of Hops & Vines is on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5-8 p.m. at Snail Lake Park in Shoreview. This is a 21+ ticketed event. Each ticket earns you entry plus unlimited beer, wine and food samples. Find more information and get tickets at tasteofthehops.com. NEW: Recycling Day - Saturday, August 23 The City is pleased to offer Recycling Day - a new event to recycle certain residential items! This event is open to all Arden Hills residents (IDs required) from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Public Works Yard. Residents may dispose of specific residential materials free of charge. Accepted materials include, but are not limited to: light bulbs, TVs, batteries, scrap metal, mattresses and more. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF ELIGIBLE ITEMS, VISIT: cityofardenhills.org/Recycling-Day. NOTE: Any item not shown on the webpage, including electronic devices containing data storage and household hazardous waste, will NOT be accepted. SAVE THE DATE: The annual Cleanup Day will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4 for Arden Hills residents at Recycle Technologies in Blaine. A coupon to recycle two free items will be available in the August/September newsletter. Updated information on both events can be found at cityofardenhills.org/Recycling. Upcoming Community Events The Public Works Yard is 1/4 mile north of the intersection at Hwy 96 and Hamline Ave., on Ben Franklin Dr. (follow signage and cones). 12 • Arden Hills Notes • July 2025 Inside ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid TWIN CITIES, MN Permit #1710Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 The City of Arden Hills is creating a Park System Plan to guide the long-term care and improvement of our parks, trails and natural areas, and we want to hear from you! The planning process is officially underway. On June 13, the Park System Plan Steering Committee met to refine project goals and develop a community engagement strategy. This committee is made up of consultants from Bolton & Menk, City staff, Council members and the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC). Now it’s your turn. Your feedback will directly influence the City’s vision for its public spaces, helping to prioritize investments, identify areas for improvement and ensure our parks remain safe, welcoming and meaningful for years to come. Please take a few minutes to complete the Arden Hills Park System Plan survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ArdenHillsParks Every response helps. Whether you use our trails daily or visit a neighborhood park occasionally, your input matters. Let’s plan a park system that reflects the needs and values of the whole Arden Hills community. Construction Begins on New Fire Department Headquarters Finance Related Awards Adopt-A-Park E-Bikes and Motorized Scooters Popular Annual Financial Report Water Efficiency Rebate Program Community Events Parks and Recreation Survey and more! Postal Customer Help Shape the Future of Arden Hills Parks - Take the Survey! Scan Me! Let’s Get Social! Follow us on social media and subscribe to email alerts. Be the first to know all that’s happening, important updates and upcoming events. Visit: cityofardenhills.orgin